Cyprus law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation into the financial and tax affairs of Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea Football Club.
The review was prompted by an investigation by The Guardian and its media partners.
During a hearing of a Cypriot parliamentary committee, a police representative confirmed that investigators are examining events from 2003 to 2006. The investigation is expected to last about six months, as the length of time that has passed since the events makes it harder to gather evidence.
According to the investigation, aides to the Russian oligarch — including staff from the Cyprus office of the audit firm Deloitte — likely forged and backdated documents relating to his offshore businesses. Such actions helped Abramovich’s companies conceal billions of pounds in assets and evade tax.
Law enforcement officers have already begun collecting materials and plan to involve relevant agencies to assess the evidence. Journalists obtained the revelations thanks to a leak of more than half a million documents known as Cyprus Confidential.
Abramovich has previously denied any wrongdoing and said he relied on advice from professional advisers. Deloitte Cyprus said it always acts within the law, but currently does not have access to documents from that period due to how long ago the events took place.